§ Dr. NaysmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide genetically engineered recombinant treatment products in place of blood products for people with haemophilia in the United Kingdom. [147042]
§ Mr. DenhamWe have already instructed National Health Service trusts to provide recombinant clotting factors to new haemophilia patients and those under age 16. We have recently met representatives from the Haemophilia Society, the United Kingdom Haemophilia Doctors Association and the Royal College of Nursing Haemophilia Nurses Association to discuss the case for extending this provision to all haemophilia patients in England, and are giving careful consideration to the points they made.
§ Dr. NaysmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will hold a public inquiry into the infection of people with haemophilia, HIV and hepatitis through contaminated blood products; and if he will make a statement. [147041]
§ Mr. DenhamThe technology to make blood products free from HIV and hepatitis C in sufficient quantities to treat all haemophilia patients in the United Kingdom was not available until the mid 1980s. Once it was, the National Health Service introduced it. All this information is in the public domain and we do not believe that anyone's interest would be best served by a public inquiry.
§ Mr. PollardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to enable adults with haemophilia to be offered treatment with genetically engineered recombinant and to establish a no-fault compensation scheme for people with haemophilia who have been infected with hepatitis. [147265]
§ Mr. DenhamWe have already instructed National Health Service trusts to provide recombinant clotting factors to new haemophilia patients and those under age 16. We have recently met representatives from the Haemophilia Society, the United Kingdom Haemophilia Doctors Association and the Haemophilia Nurses 217W Association to discuss the case for extending this provision to all haemophilia patients in England, and are giving careful consideration to the points they made.
We have reviewed the previous Government's decision not to offer financial assistance to haemophilia patients infected with hepatitis C through blood products. We concluded that an exception could not be made to the general rule that compensation or financial help is only given when the NHS, or individuals working in it, have been at fault.